Welcome 2014 cont'd

     I was 1 week late in getting my blood tested.  Knew I'd hear about it from my Dr. if I let it go 2.  

     It was about 6 in the morning when I pulled up.  They were already opened.  Bonus.  I get my blood done so often that I have a 6 month standing order.  So it's always quick for me.  Breakfast was a necessity.

     A lot of thoughts and tensions were running through my head.  I needed food.  Now the penultimate place, that I love opened at 7.  I wasn't making that.  Plus as of late, the $18, that is with tip, breakfast just doesn't appeal.  Not a lot of options on the morn of the New Year.

     I ultimately went with a little place right near the train station.  I'd heard some amazing things.  Place was rather small.  It had the look and feel of a diner that had been downsized by 3/4's.  Seemed alright.  Ordered 2 pancakes.  The guy took care of me.  Had a voice that sounded like he gargled with borax.  There was someone else there, a friend or regular.  Not much interaction with me other than how were the pancakes.  They were okay.  I paid and left full.  

     My mind was racing now with a lot of thoughts.  How can I afford this?  They certainly can't.  What was I going to do?  Was this the final straw?  How much of an economic burden this was to me.  I'm barley left with any extra to pay bills and have fun.

     I'd grabbed a cigar with me on the way out.  I thought I might need it.  Parked near the same water I go to on Sundays in the summer time.  Lit up.  And just let the sunrise, the birds, and the tide calm me.

     It is not the most gorgeous place in the world.  But it does.  Look out onto a little bay or maybe cove.  Saw ducks and geese and seagulls.  I still don't know where the egrets winter.  And just watched the water.

     I fear the water a bit and love it at the same time.  Just concentrated and meditated.  Enjoying the smoke, had the radio off.  It began to dawn on me.  How this was just some other intangible unplanned for item.  And like the water, that ebbs and flows every 8 hours, I would endure.

     The sea, after all I'm not that far from the Atlantic Ocean.  It has it's squalls, storms, raging waves.  We've poked and prodded it.  We've sailed on it and under it.  Yet it continues as when it was first created.  And it began to make me think.

     This was just another hurdle.  And I could take it.  If necessary I would get a second job.  But this was not a crisis moment.  No reason for panic.  If the sea won't panic I wouldn't panic.  It was a very good visit.

     It was nearing 8:30 when I was done.  Realized I had to drop off insurance payments.  2 for the house and 1 for my car.  Off I went.  Feeling at ease with everything.  There was a bit more traffic than I'd anticipated.  No where near regular days though.  Think people were planning for the Evening.

     I got home.  Sister some what calmer.  Asked and demanded what were we going to do.  It was 8:45 at this point.  She said I should call the neighbors, how were we going to afford this.  And insisted that it be a fridge with an ice maker and a freezer on the bottom.  She would tell me about 7 times before I would even start looking.  I was in my element.  Crisis control.

     Told her I would call the repair service, who'd fixed the ice maker 3 times in the last 8 years.  I did and made contact.  She was right there.  I asked for today and they said they couldn't do it.  I knew as much.  Off phone she was insisting, "It has to be today.  Tell them it has to be Today!"  I knew it wasn't going to be.  So made the peremptory appointment for Thursday.  She was not pleased.

     Told her I was not calling the neighbors until I had a better grasp on situation.  She had a cry.  I tried best I could to tell her it would be alright.  It was getting tedious.  I went to get her something to drink and empty the fridge.  Oh what a loss of everything.  Don't forget I also go shopping on Sundays.  A total loss.  

     I also had an idea that I would hope might pan out.  I've some coins, hoped they'd be worth a few hundred dollars.  Worth a try.

t.b.c.
 

Not my idea of a way to start back to work.

     We've got about 10 min. so let's do this.

     Monday broke drearily enough for my first day back at work.  Got up, since while on vacation I kept to my usual schedule this was no great chore.  Had some left over salad from Saturday night, I'd improve on it tho. 

     It is a favorite of mine, mixed dark greens, cranberries, goat cheese, diced pear of the non canned variety, and they left out the walnuts at my asking.  Well I'd made flank steak the previous Tuesday and chopped it into the salad.  I should mention no dressing. 

     Have to have blood checked periodically, I've a standing order at the place I use.  They open at 6, so if I'm out the door by 10 to I can get there.  Usually done in 10-15 min, not crowded normally.  I'm friendly with the staff, who chides me if I'm not there regularly.  Normally a good experience.  (okay was hoping to do this in 10, but I'm hungry, remembered I need lunch, so this will be finished Monday night and maybe posted or posted Tuesday.  Okay didn't work try Thursday.)

     Get there, am treating myself to an egg sandwhich for breakfast so I haven't eaten yet.  3 people ahead of me, not bad at all.  Then I see that it is someone new.  Play dramatic music here.  I'm not happy.  First person goes in, leaves 15 min later.  Second person goes in, leaves 15 min later.  3rd person goes in, yup another 15 min.  Meanwhile the lab is filling up.

     I'm watching the clock, long as I leave my house by 10 after 7 I can make work on time.  I am about 10 min in the opposite direction of work.  So I wait.  A woman comes in to help the technician.  Then the dreaded.  A woman came in went to the window, she'd made an appointment online.

     Normally my usual woman there would have the person wait for a few min, especially seeing there was someone who had just waited an hour to have blood drawn.  The woman is shown into a room.  15 min, I would be next.  It is now 7:10, I've not had breakfast, there is no sign of anyone coming to say next, I must get breakfast, oh and get to work on time.  I cross my name off the list.

     Drive 10 min to a deli I know, get my egg sandwhich.  It's now 7:20 and I'm going to be late.  Personally I just accept it.  I'm not risking life and limb and car to get to work.  Especially when I am generaly the first person in anyways.

     After a lot of driving I make it in about 8:15, when questioned by the annoying co-worker I claim to have been on the dock.  Love when people who are perpetually 10 min late and leave 5 min early question a really bad morning for me.
  
     The salad?  What would you do with a salad that had cheese and been wilting for a little over 2 hours in your car.  Tossed!  Had to buy lunch, which meant the money I was saving for the week was not bitten into.

     Anyway, that's how the week started.  Happy 4th!  I'm off to the city tomorrow.  later.